Lisbon, Portugal, May 11, 2010 / 15:05 pm
On Tuesday evening during the papal visit to Portugal, young people from numerous parishes and ecclesial movements showed up outside the apostolic nunciature and began singing to Pope Benedict. After listening to their songs and cheers, he thanked them for “the kindness you have shown this humble Vicar on earth.”
Reflecting on the day's earlier events, which included an open-air Mass in Lisbon's Palace Square, the Pope said he “appreciated the lively and numerous participation of young people” in the Mass, and that it is “a clear indication of their faith and their desire to build their future on the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
“Thank you for your joyful witness to Christ, who is eternally young, and thank you for the kindness you have shown to his humble Vicar on earth by gathering here this evening,” he continued.
“You have come to wish me good night and from my heart I thank you; but now you must let me go and sleep, otherwise the night will not be good, and tomorrow awaits us.”